He cheated for 16 months – mostly on the phone

by Rod Smith

Reader Writes: “I don’t believe my spouse had a sexual affair, but he definitely was too involved with a female coworker. I just found out that they have been talking on the phone for the past 16 months (January 05 to May 06) behind my back. They talked every morning and two and three times every night, and then on weekends. He says they are just friends and they talked about ‘work and general stuff.’ I know everyone he works with, and all his friends. I even know this woman, yet I never heard one conversation they had in those 16 months. He says I need to put it in perspective and move on. He has ended their communications and has apologized for his ‘transgression.’ So yes, I consider myself ‘cheated on.’ If she is such a friend, why isn’t this friendship shared with me and his family like every other friendship we’ve had?”

Rod Responds: Your reasoning is superb, and your question utterly valid. I hope your husband values the treasure he has in you, his wife. Any friendship consuming the time and energy you have described is most certainly not a healthy liaison. That it ever had to be secret is the largest and most glaring red flag.

2 Comments to “He cheated for 16 months – mostly on the phone”

  1. Airen's avatar

    Interesting. I have had a very similiar experience in my marriage. My husband had a secret “friendship” for over 18 months– and it would’ve gone on longer if I hadn’t discovered it. He never admitted what he did was wrong, but did give up the relationship (I think) at my request and said he never meant to hurt me. I believe there was no sexual infidelity, but the effect of the episode nevertheless really rocked the marriage. I agree with the woman who wrote this post– cheating is cheating. I can’t imagine any “friendship” would be worth jeopardizing my marriage over. I especially can’t imagine carrying on a secret friendship– the secrecy is what makes it all not-so-innocent for that length of time. If your marriage is so important to you, why would you risk it like that? More importantly, “who” would do that? It made me question what exactly I have here. We talked about it some, I went to therapy– he refused…we’ve moved on I suppose. But I must say, for me, it’s not really the same.

  2. msvicki's avatar

    My husband of four years got caught with a telephonic affair too with someone from his home state where we used to live. We moved to Vegas and I discovered it back in April 2007 (out of state) from phone bills. It began in October when we moved here. At my request, he called her in front of me to tell her it was over and he loved and was staying with his wife. I forgave him and let it go. Recently, he picked up where he left off calling her daily. I discovered again that the calls revamped in July. I tore into him like there wasn’t no tomorrow. He moved out and filed for divorce. Can you imagine that?

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